United Kingdom "pleased” Iran nuke talks will resume in October

The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said he was "pleased" that negotiations with Iran's nuclear programme would restart in October.

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Nick Clegg said he welcomed the 'encouraging words" of Iranian President Rouhani who said he wanted to "engage immediately in time-bound talks on the nuclear issue."

The last talks held about Iran's nuclear programme were in April, in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with US Secretary of State John Kerry and with members of the E3 +3 group on the sidelines of the high-level gathering .

The E3+3 group includes France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and the United States and leads diplomatic efforts with Iran in regards to its nuclear pr ogramme.

Mr. Clegg said he hoped the Iranian President's words were "matched with genuine action."

"If Iran's words are followed by concrete steps, then there is a real opportunity to make progress in resolving the serious international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. We also look to a more constructive approach from Iran in helping resolve the crisis in Syria, and we have made clear to Iran that we are ready to improve our relationship on a step-by-step and reciprocal basis."

The six countries that make up the E3+3 group, including the UK, have agreed to meet in Geneva on 15 and 16 October to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.